The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Locals invited to have say on flood-defence options
Environment: Drop-in sessions in town will consider possible measures
Residents of an Argyll town are meeting to discuss flood defences.
Dozens of people are expected to turn out to the Rockfield Centre in Oban next week to discuss ways of preventing flash floods across the area.
The drop-in sessions – taking place next Thursday from 12.30-3pm and 6-8pm – are the latest in a line of meetings which have been hosted by Argyll and Bute Council in recent months in support of their local flood risk management plan.
A shortlist of options have already been
“It’s absolutely right the people of the area have a say”
identified including flood storage upstream of the town, flood defences along the Black Lynn and coastal defence walls.
Flood modelling, conceptual design and cost estimates have also been used to compare the relative performance of each option.
At the meeting, local residents will meet representatives from Argyll and Bute Council and flood-defence experts for informal discussions about their preferred defence option, while sharing local flood knowledge.
Presentations followed by a question-and-answer session will also take place at 1pm and 6.30pm.
Oban North and Lorn councillor Kieron Green said such meetings help find an effective solution.
He said: “We have had a number of examples of that already in the last year and it’s clearly something which is going to affect people in the future, obviously more frequently as a result of changing weather due to climate change so it’s really important that we have measures in place to protect our community.
“It’s absolutely right the people of the area have a say on what sort of measures are being considered.
“Often measures to alleviate flooding can be quite intrusive, so it’s really important that people appreciate why those are being put in. Any suggestions on how we can make these blend in with the surroundings more would be very welcome.”
Feedback will inform the preferred flood scheme solution for Oban, which will then be presented for consideration to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Scottish Government for funding.
The plan was launched last year after major flooding and heavy rainfall resulted in devastation for local homes and business.
In October last year Lochavullin Retail Park suffered extensive flooding, resulting in the closure of
Lynn road and preventing vehicles from accessing retailers Tesco, Homebase, Argos and M&S Food Hall.
Cars in the public car park were submerged under feet of water and properties in Soroba Road were waterlogged as the nearby Black Lynn Burn burst its banks.